Bolifushi

The layout of the island is simple. Coming down the arrival jetty the guest faces a beautifully neat, ornamental display of sculptured bushes and tidy thatch over white coral walls. Here are the public buildings of the reception, restaurant, coffee shop and bar, as well as the spa, which occupies the first two of the 'Boli rooms'. These Boli rooms are the standard rooms that arc around the north side of the island, facing the main action beach and the water bungalows. The quiet beach is on the next side (the west and northwest sides), where the beach villas are. The dive school and water sports centre take up the next part of the island and then it's back down past the restaurant again.

 

It takes just a few minutes to stroll around the place but if you go on the beach it takes a lot longer because this is A-grade, softest, deepest sand. The few groynes with large round ends are like features of the resort and none of them hinder views from the rooms or direct access to the beach.

 

The snorkelling is either between the overwater coffee shop and water bungalows or around the west side (in front of the beach villas). A channel makes the west side more rewarding but also trickier as the current is sometimes strong. Most people stick to the easier section, which is still good, especially for coral regrowth.

 

A couple of sunken boats add to the quality of house reef diving but generally the trips need to go either to the other side of the atoll or up to the southern end of North Malé Atoll, where there are a number of well-known Protected Marine Areas. The instructors speak Italian, Japanese and English but not much German or Russian. The lagoon, which is soft and only gradually goes down, is ideal for lessons. 

 

The dive and water sports participation has declined with the arrival of Veratour, whose accent is more on guests having fun on the beach during the day, in the bar at night and out on excursions together (that should mean, of course, more personalised attention for those who do want to do diving and water sports).

 

In other parts of the world Veratour do a full-on energetic and noisy good time but here that style is carefully restricted. For example, the aqua aerobics is the quietest I have seen and nothing must take place after 11.15 at night, except the once-a-week live band. The other evening entertainments are an underwater video, a magic show, a cabaret and a big quiz. All of this happens in the overwater bar and coffee shop (with its large decking area outside). This is a fine spot for it all, but there isn't an alternative 'quiet bar'.

 

The Italian guides and animators do a fine job with their clients, keeping them well informed and entertained. The other guests are left pretty much to their own devices, with information on a board in the reception.

 

The 15 Water Bungalows are, as usual, the premium rooms. On a triangular jetty, they face north, east and west. The decking is a fair size but you do see everyone on your side. The interior is smart but rather dim, with their dark wood floors and walls. There is an espresso maker and kettle for tea and a large television, which just shows the news channels.

 

The Beach Villas share the same interior as the Water Bungalows except for white walls and a bathtub but no espresso maker. Their decks are on stilts with a view of good beaches, but their privacy is not the best and the wooden sun loungers don't have a cover.

 

The Boli rooms are simple, clean and unpretentious. They are not large but they have what you need (air conditioning, a powerful shower and a hair dryer) and open directly out to the large, 'all-together' beach.